My Late Father's Watch

GrimUpNorth · Aug 27, 2021

Hi Everyone.

I'm new here and to Omega watches. I inherited my late father's Constellation and just wondered if anyone can tell me anything about it. He got it in Bangkok in the early 1960's and he had it on his wrist every day for as long as I can remember. I know the strap and buckle aren't genuine and I'm pretty sure the crown was changed during a service but apart from this I don't really know anything about it.

I'm not looking to sell it, but would be interested to know if I should insure it though a replacement wouldn't have the same sentimental value.

At the same time as they got this watch they also got a Saphette for my mother which my wife now wares everyday!

Thanks Dave

ApolloXVII · Aug 27, 2021

Hi Dave

The dial look ok for me, the crown you are right i think it has to be octagonal, regarding the gold medallion on the back (It should be solid gold) the picture it's not so good but i think it has to have more details..and you realise that to be sure about a watch you will have to open it and check the machinery..

Welcome to the forum

cristos71 · Aug 27, 2021

Unfortunately it has been at least redialed at some point. As you note an incorrect crown too. The case has also been quite heavily polished. The value I'd put on it as is would be around €300-400 due to the dial and case condition.

Peemacgee · Aug 27, 2021

Welcome Dave @GrimUpNorth

Commiserations on the loss of your father.
As a keepsake of your father, your watch is priceless.

As a critique of the watch as a collectors piece:
The style is known as a dogleg case with a pie pan dial.
Likely a 168.005 but possibly a 14902 (same reference but Omega changed their numbering system around 1963. )
It has a gold-capped case with a solid gold bezel.
It looks to be rose gold, which is more uncommon.

As @cristos71 says, the dial has been repainted in the past and the case polished.
This does affect the value in the collectors market.
The crown looks to be a yellow gold replacement.

The best thing I could tell you is to enjoy wearing it and remember your father.
( if it hasn’t been serviced in a while it might be best to have it serviced before you wear it too much. )

hope that helps

Dan S · Aug 27, 2021

I inherited a re-dialed watch from my father also, an IWC. Ironically it was his pride and joy. Perhaps it's a blessing in disguise, since it means that I will never be tempted to sell it.

GrimUpNorth · Aug 27, 2021

Thanks for the comments, they truly are appreciated.

I'm planning on having it serviced so just a couple more questions. We have an Omega approved service centre nearby, should I use them or do I find a good independent? I'm going to use the watch daily so how often would you recommend getting it serviced?

Thanks again.

Dave

felsby · Aug 27, 2021

G GrimUpNorth
Thanks for the comments, they truly are appreciated.
I'm planning on having it serviced so just a couple more questions. We have an Omega approved service centre nearby, should I use them or do I find a good independent? I'm going to use the watch daily so how often would you recommend getting it serviced?
Thanks again. Dave

I would look for a good independent. They will do the job just as well, maybe even better, as they will not propose to send the watch to Omega HQ - something you should avoid, as they will change many parts without asking.

SkunkPrince · Aug 27, 2021

felsby
as they will change many parts without asking.

What do you think they will change on this watch to make it any less valuable? Wrong crown, refinished dial, heavily-polished lugs... They literally could not make it any less "collectible". Therefore, factory service is well worth considering.

Peemacgee · Aug 27, 2021

G GrimUpNorth
Thanks for the comments, they truly are appreciated.

I'm planning on having it serviced so just a couple more questions. We have an Omega approved service centre nearby, should I use them or do I find a good independent? I'm going to use the watch daily so how often would you recommend getting it serviced?

Thanks again.

Dave

An independent is likely the best way to go for value for money in this case.
If you tell us roughly where you are you may get some recommendations for a suitable watchmaker.

Dan S · Aug 27, 2021

G GrimUpNorth
Thanks for the comments, they truly are appreciated.

I'm planning on having it serviced so just a couple more questions. We have an Omega approved service centre nearby, should I use them or do I find a good independent? I'm going to use the watch daily so how often would you recommend getting it serviced?

Thanks again.

Dave

Do you prefer to work with an individual or a corporate entity? It's really personal preference for a watch like this.

GrimUpNorth · Aug 27, 2021

Peemacgee
An independent is likely the best way to go for value for money in this case.
If you tell us roughly where you are you may get some recommendations for a suitable watchmaker.

Hi, I'm in West Yorkshire, UK

Peemacgee · Aug 28, 2021

G GrimUpNorth
Hi, I'm in West Yorkshire, UK

That’s a coincidence, as I am also in W Yorkshire.
There are a couple of trusted U.K. watchmakers that are often recommended.
I think there may be a watchmaker in E Yorkshire but I can’t recall their name.
However, most members post their watches for service.
There are a couple of trusted watchmakers that are members here.
Chris N
Mitka
Christian (watch guy)
There’s also Simon Freese

All of these guys will treat your watch carefully and follow your instructions of what you do and don’t want done to your watch.

hope that helps.

felsby · Aug 28, 2021

SkunkPrince
What do you think they will change on this watch to make it any less valuable? Wrong crown, refinished dial, heavily-polished lugs... They literally could not make it any less "collectible". Therefore, factory service is well worth considering.

Was not thinking of less valuable, only the issue of changing parts that did not need to be changed, as is Omegas wont.

Edward53 · Aug 28, 2021

SkunkPrince
What do you think they will change on this watch to make it any less valuable? Wrong crown, refinished dial, heavily-polished lugs... They literally could not make it any less "collectible". Therefore, factory service is well worth considering.

If OP wanted to get the watch as close to original as possible that would be sound advice. However with a family watch different priorities may apply. I dislike redials and wrong crowns but if that watch had belonged to my father I would use an independent to service it and keep it as is, redial wrong crown and all. Start messing around with it and it's no longer his old watch.

SkunkPrince · Aug 28, 2021

I was more thinking of movement parts. They're generally all included and a watch this age with unknown service history, there will be a lot of parts.

Peemacgee · Aug 28, 2021

SkunkPrince
I was more thinking of movement parts. They're generally all included and a watch this age with unknown service history, there might be a lot of parts.

FIFY

I have a small fleet of 60s constellations, all have either; 551,561 or 564 movements.
I may have been fortunate but I have only ever needed a major part for one of the watches at service.
This was a reversing wheel assembly which, from memory, was around £150 at the time.
All ran to the most amazing standard of time keeping after service.

Obviously, there is no way of knowing what parts a 60 year old watch might need at service but it would be misleading, by way of justifying the high cost of an Omega service, to say that all old watches will need a lot of parts.

Now, if the movement is toast, an Omega service might indeed be the better route to take.

The best option, in my opinion, would be to select a trusted independent watchmaker and get a quote for the service work.
Dave can then decide which way he wants to go.

SkunkPrince · Aug 28, 2021

Peemacgee
Obviously, there is no way of knowing what parts a 60 year old watch might need at service but it would be misleading, by way of justifying the high cost of an Omega service, to say that all old watches will need a lot of parts.

Again with the "high cost". I don't know what your watchmakers normally charge there, but the cost of Omega service here is comparable to a decent watchmaker who knows vintage and is willing to put in the time to make it run well. I can find a hack to clean, lube, and reassemble, but timekeeping will be poor.

I believe you folks have mentioned your rock-star watchmakers charge more, too.

Not my watch, not my decision. But the insistance that cheaper is better really bothers me. You may not care if your watch runs 20 seconds a day fast because you wear it once every two months, but some of us do care, and I resent being poked at for caring about timekeeping or for being too stupid to find someone who costs less.

Peemacgee · Aug 28, 2021

SkunkPrince
Again with the "high cost". I don't know what your watchmakers normally charge there, but the cost of Omega service here is comparable to a decent watchmaker who knows vintage and is willing to put in the time to make it run well. I can find a hack to clean, lube, and reassemble, but timekeeping will be poor.

I believe you folks have mentioned your rock-star watchmakers charge more, too.

Not my watch, not my decision. But the insistance that cheaper is better really bothers me. You may not care if your watch runs 20 seconds a day fast because you wear it once every two months, but some of us do care, and I resent being poked at for caring about timekeeping or for being too stupid to find someone who costs less.

I genuinely don't know why you become so irascible about this topic.
You have your point of view but it dissents from the majority of the members who send their vintage watches for service.

As it happens, we who use independents care about originality, cost and quality.
The watchmakers we use are not hacks who 'clean and lube' as you imply but skilled at their jobs - and you do them a great disservice by suggesting that they are anything other.

The premise is not that 'cheaper is better' - but more a case of why pay more for a comparable job, with the added unquantifiable risk that a vintage watch may be ruined because of the mores of the Omega service centre.

No-one is poking at you but it is reasonable to contradict an unequivocal statement when it is potentially misleading.
You evidently value the service that Omega provides and if that works for you then fine.

-and for the record I think it is only you who has ever suggested that you are "too stupid to find someone who costs less" and no one else

Dan S · Aug 28, 2021

Peemacgee
I genuinely don't know why you become so irascible about this topic.
You have your point of view but it dissents from the majority of the members who send their vintage watches for service.

I guess he's pissed off that nobody agrees with him. 😁

GrimUpNorth · Aug 31, 2021

Hi Everyone

Didn't mean to cause any fallings out, but you've all made me realise that Omega can be more than a way to tell the time/date and can stir up some pretty strong emotions.

I'm not sure yet if I'll go Omega or independent but whichever way I do go I'm happy to be part of the Omega family.

Thanks

Dave

My Late Father's Watch

GrimUpNorth

ApolloXVII

cristos71

Peemacgee

Dan S

GrimUpNorth

felsby

SkunkPrince

Peemacgee

Dan S

GrimUpNorth

Peemacgee

felsby

Edward53

SkunkPrince

Peemacgee

SkunkPrince

Peemacgee

Dan S

GrimUpNorth

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